CSUN11, the Tribe Vibe and the big Web Accessibility debate
The second leg of my self-titled US Tour was in sunny San Diego at CSUN, the international conference about technology for disabled people. However, this description does CSUN a disservice, as it is just so much more.
The conference certainly covered all manner of Assistive Technology, but went far deeper. It explored how diverse people use technology in their daily lives, how mainstream technologies are adopted for purposes other than originally intended, how inclusive mainstream technologies, with in built accessibility features, provide options and opportunities for disabled people, how web accessibility and inclusive design benefit all, the importance of ensuring accessibility features are built into nascent technologies, such as HTML5 and then some. As John Foliot, one of the pioneers of accessibility advocacy, puts it, we are all part of the tribe and I couldn't agree more.
There were so many people that I wanted to meet and, just like at SXSW, there were friends old and new. But this was different. Everyone was included. There were no green rooms and no delineation between speakers and attendees. It was just one big, happy, warm and welcoming family. The presentations and panels were awesome. I never felt like folk were pimping their wares. The only things being promoted were ideas, knowledge, views, ideals and human values and they were all free of charge.
I had the honour of being on a panel organised by Jared Smith from WebAim, alongside Jennison Asuncion and John Foliot. Our session was entitled "Do We Need to Change the Web Accessibility Game Plan?" and it was a truly invigorating experience. In the evenings, the tribe gathered to eat and drink. It was more of a crowd sourcing thing than an invitation thing.
For me, CSUN was a life changing event. I felt like I was part of something. I felt a sense of belonging and a sense of community. The "Tribe Vibe" was very groovy for this hippy chick: Although my ideas are not always popular or understood, in the tribe all ideas are welcomed. It is the closest thing to a meritocracy I have ever experienced and this created a lot of room for free thinking that has helped to crystallise my own thoughts about where to go from here.
Although by the end of CSUN I was desperate to get home, it was difficult to leave nonetheless. I wanted those feelings to last forever and I shed a few tears as we departed, but there was comfort. As long as the tribe prevails at CSUN, I will be there year after year after year.
For more about the panel I participated in, the debate continues on the WebAIm Blog.
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Comments
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At the risk of being branded a party pooper I can't really let this cascade of love and peace just role over me. I am, of course, delighted that Sandi enjoyed both SXSW and CSun - events I'd be very happy to attend myself some day. What I have to comment on here is the so-called debate Sandi mentions on "Do we need to change the web accessibility game plan?" The title is so rediculous it would be funny if it wasn't horrifying in it's seming naivety. How could the web accessibility game plan not need changing when it is patently not working?
I've been to one or two conferences in my time and whilst it's pleasant to chat to like-minded enquiring people, and whilst you might even get a glimpse of a light bulb moment, by enlarge they seem to consist of the converted being preached to by the enthusiasts. Very friendly, very cosy, but not generally very effective.
Surely the debate needs to be carried to the mainstream where the average web designer or software developer has never heard of accessibility. Surely this debate needs to be taken to the universities who teach these people and don't include anything about accessibility let alone usability in their curriculums. Surely large companies need to be informed about accessibility so that they go beyond just making a website accessible and move to a position where accessibility is built into what they do and therefore doesn't have to be continually retro-fitted at huge cost and inconvenience.
I'm not sure how to accomplish this, but what I am sure about is that we need individual people to constructively challenge inaccessibility where it matters to them and they have the energy, but we also need organisational and systemic challenge so that we can move on from fixing something only to see it broken in the next iteration or version because accessibility gets forgotten in the rush for the next exciting glittery facelift!Posted by John Ramm, 29 March 2011 (11 months ago)
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John, the event you're describing would be SxSW Interactive. There are other examples, too, but I'll save them for later.
In other words, the accessibility-themed sessions at SxSW-Interactive were packed with everyday Web developers and designers who were there to learn how to make their work products accessible. In fact, I couldn't get into either of the accessibility sessions I tried to attend, and other members of the Tribe were streaming out to let run-of-the-mill Web developers have their seats.
Yes, before and after hours, the Tribe met to recharge our batteries. But it was far from self-congratulating that went on. We talked about better ways to help people understand how to implement the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, test their products, and teach others to do the same. And we talked about how to welcome more people into the Tribe. I won't deny that we had a blast doing it, but, hey, who says doing good has to be drudgery?
For the most part, the sessions at SxSW-Interactive were led by people who had been everyday Web developers or designers, but learned what they were teaching through one or more accessibility conferences, through online discussion groups, and even through working out problems on our own. SxSW-Interactive isn't the only place where that kind of sharing happens — far from it!
There's knowbility.org's John Slatin Access University, held here in Austin each May.
There's CSUN. Although I've never been, from the sessions they've posted online it does not look like they are just preaching to the converted there. Anyone who can afford the event can register and attend. No prior accessibility experience required.
Each November, there's Accessing Higher Ground, held in Colorado. The focus at AHG is on improving accessibility in the educational environment, but anyone can register and attend if they can afford it.
Even people who can't get to one of these specialized conferences can learn at least the basics of accessibility at other professional conferences. For example, members of the Tribe have presented seminars and workshops at conferences of the Society for Technical Communication, the Usability Professionals' Association, and the National Association of Government Webmasters. We also share what we know at local meetups. I've presented on accessibility to a Drupal Users' Group meetup more than once.
We work through peer-to-peer networks, too. For example, I work at a state agency, and I'm helping people at other governmental agencies in my state as well as across the United States learn more effective ways to enable their Web developers, designers, and content providers to produce accessible websites and applications. And in those networks I've learned methods that I could put to work in my own organization, too.
If you have no other options, try to organize an Accessibility Camp in your community. You don't need to know much about accessibility to organize one of these unconferences — you just have to be willing to share what you do know and learn more from others. To get help organizing an Accessibility Camp, go to accessibilitycamp.org. And to get an idea of just how egalitarian an Accessibility Camp is, listen to Jennison Asuncion's opening remarks at Accessibility Camp Seattle, which was held just this weekend: http://is.gd/0M7xq9
So far, Accessibility Camps have also been held in Washington, DC, and Boston. Events are in the works for Washington, DC, Toronto, and Ottawa this coming fall; I believe Boston's Accessibility Camp is in late winter or early spring.
Still too much? Join one of the many online interest groups, such as the LinkedIn Accessibility group. Join one of the many online discussions, such as the forum maintained by WebAIM.org. Encourage other everyday developers to do the same.
I won't deny it: A core of us have become a tribe, and we do savor every opportunity to meet, do some back-slapping, and recharge our batteries. But I haven't been to such an event yet where we haven't made our main goal to teach others how to create accessible pages and apps and as our secondary goal to welcome more new members into our tribe.
After all, not long ago, we, too, knew nothing about accessibility or how to achieve it. Having all that knowledge isn't what makes us the Tribe.
It's wanting to share it in a way that really helps.Posted by Cliff Tyllick, 22 May 2011 (9 months ago)
